Haredi

Haredi Jews, or Ultra-Orthodox Jews, refers to a socio-religious demographic of Jewish people that follow strict interpretations of Torah, halachah (Jewish traditions) and rabbinical decrees. 


Haredi Jews are not a monolithic group, and have many ideological beliefs and differences sect to sect. Some characteristics that are often shared are cultural. Haredi Jews often wear old shtetl-style black and white clothing with distinct hats, have large families with a focus on the family unit, and live in neighbourhoods with predominantly Haredi families. 


Ideologically, haredi Jews vary on zionism, but often believe in separation of genders in public spaces, are against public life and works on shabbat, and are often antagonistic to many manifestations of technology. Haredi youth are expected to learn Jewish scriptures in Yeshivas until they are married. 


There are about 1.8 million haredi Jews in the world, many living in Europe, the United States, and Israel. In Israel Haredim make up about 12% of the population. There are haredi parties in the Israeli Knesset, such as Shas, United Torah Judaism, Noam, and Yachad.


One conflict between haredi Jews and other cleavages in Israeli society is military service. In the past there have been protests against the conscription of haredi men into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Laws have previously been passed to compromise and preclude haredi men from conscription. Another point of contention has in the past been haredi representation in the workforce, but the number of haredi Jews integrating into the workforce has been increasing.

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A newly published Hebrew University of Jerusalem study found that the well-meaning environmental tax turned into a cultural flashpoint.

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 A demonstrator uses a megaphone as people protest for a ceasefire agreement, near the US Consulate in Tel Aviv, in 2024.PremiumPremium

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Israeli civilians attempted to enter Nablus without coordinating with the IDF and "in violation of the law," the IDF clarified.

 The courtyard of Joseph's Tomb in Nablus.

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The extremist haredi faction reportedly spat on Ethiopian families attempting to access the shelter.

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Biton once served as CEO of Bnei Yosef, a haredi educational network, MQG noted, arguing that not only does this place him in a conflict of interest, it endangers the safety of all of the students.

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 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf seen in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023

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The announcement means that the IDF will be summoning the entire "pool" of eligible haredi men, in addition to the 24,000 haredim who already received initial draft orders since July 2024.

 A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish man protest against IDF conscription, near Bnei Brak, June 5, 2025

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The coalition’s ultra-Orthodox parties have threatened to support the bill due to Netanyahu’s prolonged failure to push through a law to regulate haredi service in the IDF.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf seen in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023

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“Israel needs both scholars and soldiers, but how they determine the balance is not something I could or would weigh in on," Huckabee wrote on X.

 US Ambassador Mike Huckabee addresses the media outside the US Embassy in Jerusalem, May 9, 2025.

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The present Netanyahu-led government has exhausted 13 years of delaying strategies and broken promises to the haredi parties.

 The Jerusalem Dispatch

Israeli gov't rolls out new program for 3,000 haredi conscripts

Despite the initiative, many critics believe negative incentives are still needed to get haredim to serve.

 A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish man protest against IDF conscription, near Bnei Brak, June 5, 2025

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 A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish man holds a placard next to a police horse as he takes part in a protest against pressure to conscript into the military in Bnei Brak, Israel, June 5, 2025. The words in Hebrew read "We will not enlist in the enemy army."